weapons."

"Very well; tell him a party from the ship will be ready in a few
seconds. You will go with us as interpreter; you understand how to
communicate with them."

* * * * *

I pressed Correy's attention signal and he answered instantly.

"Pick five good men for a landing party, two of them portable
disintegrator ray operators, with equipment. The others will be
provided with _ethon_ lamps, pistols, and atomic grenades. Get the men
to the trap as quickly as possible, please."

"Immediately, sir!"

I had the cage drawn up, and by the time I had secured my own
equipment and returned, Correy was waiting with his men.

"One second, Mr. Correy, and we'll leave," I said, calling the
navigating room. "Mr. Kincaide, I'm leaving you in command. We are
going into the Aranian city to pick up Inverness and Brady. I
anticipate no trouble, and if there is no trouble, we shall return
within an hour. If we are not back within three hours, blast this
entire area with atomic grenades, and riddle it with the rays. Is
that clear?"

"Yes, sir," said Kincaide.

"And then proceed immediately to Base and report. I have made an entry
in the log regarding this expedition, as official evidence, if
needed."

"Right, sir," said Kincaide, who was as near a perfect officer as I
have ever seen.

"Mr. Correy, you've heard my orders. So have you, men. We're going
underground, into a veritable warren of these spider creatures. If any
of you wish to refuse this service, you have my permission to
withdraw."

Not a man moved. Correy hardly repressed a grin. He knew the men he
had picked for the job.

"Good!" I said, and signaled to the cage operator. Swiftly we dropped
to earth, where Tipene and our three hairy guides awaited us.

* * * * *

The descent into the white-lined tunnel was a terrifying experience.
The lining was tough and fibrous, a sort of coarse material
corresponding to the silk of a spider of normal size, although these
strands were as large as my little finger, and strong as cables.

A close inspection of our guides added nothing to my confidence or
bravery; their eight beady eyes, set at strategic spots about their
heads, seemed unwinkingly ominous. And their mandibles, with fangs
folded back like the blades of a pocket-knife, paired with their
bristly palps, seemed like very capable weapons.

The Aranians ran ahead of us, our _ethon_ lamps making s